Homogenizer



M. CORNELL June 2 1936.

HOMOGENIZER Filed June 28, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ms A 7 TERA/E V MM.

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June 2, 1936. I

Q I I III/III DISCHARGE PUMP M. CORNELL HOMOGENIZER' Fi le d June 28, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 2, 1936 HOMOGENIZER Mead Cornell, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to The Cornell Machine Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application June 28, 1935, Serial No. 28,925

22 Claims. (Cl. 259-96) This invention relates to a homogenizer and is designed primarily for effecting an intimate and substantially permanent mixture of two or more fluids which normally are wholly or partially immiscible. Such fluids can be united or blended only with great difficulty and then usually with the sacrifice of some desirable characteristic or quality of the fluids. 'For example, in the preparation of lubricating 'oils it is customary to blend two or more oils of different densities and heretofore it has been customary to place the oils in the container and heat the same to relatively high temperature, and to agitate the same by stirring or passing air through the heated mass for a long period of time.- This is not only a slow and expensive procedure, requiring the installation of costly equipment, but it results in the discoloration of the oils and more or less oxidization of the same, both of which are highly undesirable.

One object of the present invention is to provide a method for efiecting an intimate and substantially permanent mixture of a plurality of fluids which normally are wholly or partially immiscible, without the deterioration of the fluid of undesirable characteristics method.

' A further object of the invention is to provide such an apparatus in which the mixing of the fluids may be effected in a partial vacuum.

A further object of the invention is to provide such an apparatus which will be simple in its construction and which may be installed and operated at low cost.

Other objects of the invention may appear as the method and apparatus are described in detail.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view taken centrally through an apparatus embodying my invention and partly broken away; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of such an apparatus, partly broken-away; Fig. 3 is a sectional detail view of a portion of the film forming device, on an enlarged scale; and Fig. 4 is a detail view of the feed controlling valve.

In homogenizing a plurality of fluids in accordance with my method the several fluids are mingled one with the other and the mingled mass of fluid is delivered to a device, such as a centrifugal disk, from which it is projected in the form of a. thin continuous film. The film will maintain its continuity for some distance beyond the edge of the projecting device, and is caused to contact with a deflector which will deflect it against a stationary surface, such as the wall of a receptacle within which the centrifugal disk operates. The action of the deflector will also retard and slightly thicken the film so as to increase the body thereof andcause it to retain its continuity until it impinges against the wall. The film strikes the wall at an acute angle so that its continuity is not interrupted and flows down that wall in the form of a film to the body of liquid in the receptacle. In this manner the fluids are not only very intimately mixed but they are not broken up, or sprayed, and oxidization is greatly reduced. Where desired the oxidization may be further reduced by exhausting the air from the receptacle in which the operation is performed.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one form of apparatus for performing my method but it will be understood that this particular embodiment has been chosen for the purpose of illustration only and that the apparatus may take various forms, for the purpose of adapting the same to liquids of different kinds or for other reasons. The method and apparatus may be employed for mixing fluid or semifluid substances of various kinds, or for mixing one or more fluids with one or more finely divided dry substances which may be fed to and mingled with fluids, and the term fluid as herein used is intended to include any such substance.

The particular apparatus here illustrated comprises a housing 5 which encloses the film forming apparatus and constitutes a receptacle for the mixed fluids. A supporting structure 6 is arranged near the upper end of the housing or receptacle 5 and, in the present instance, forms a closure for that receptacle. This supporting structure is provided with a central opening I through which extends a vertical shaft 8. To the lower end of this shaft is rigidly secured a centrifugal disk 9 and the outer end of the shaft v is connected with a suitable driving mechanism. As here shown, the shaft 8 is a continuation of the shaft of a motor l0 which-is mounted on the structure 6. The shaft is journaled in a suitable bearing ll arranged within the opening 1 in the supporting structure. In the present instance the supporting structure or closure 5 is secured to the receptacle with a hermetically sealed joint and the space about the shaft 8 within the opening 1 is sealed by a suitable packing, such as a cup leather i2.

The disk 9 is of such a character that when rotating at high speed the fluids delivered to the upper surface thereof near its center will be caused to move over the surfaceof the disk and to be projected from the outer edge thereof in the form of a film. In the present instance, the outer portion 13 of the upper surface of the disk is inclined upwardly and outwardly with relation to a plane of rotation of the disk so that as the fluids are thrown outwardly by centrifugal force they will be retained in contact with this inclined surface, that is, will be prevented from moving over the same in the form of drops or bubbles, and will be projected from the edge of the disk in the form of a film of extreme thinness. Preferably the inner portion of the upper surface of the disk is depressed as shown at l4 to form an annular recess arranged about the hub l5 "of the disk and the wall of this.,recess merges gradually into the inclined surface l3. The fluids are delivered into this recess and are "forced out of the same onto the inclinedsurface thus preventing any large body of fluid from moving over the inclined surface and causing the fluids to spread over the inclined surface and form a thin continuous film which is subsequently projected from the edge of the disk.

The several fluids which are to be mixed may be delivered to the central portion of the disk in any suitable manner but I prefer to first mingle the several fluids one with the other and then deliver the mingled niass into the recess M of the disk. In the present construction, the supporting structure, or closure, 5 is provided with a conduit l6 adapted to be connected with the manifold i'l through which the mingled fluids are supplied thereto. The conduit l6 communicates with an annular conduit l8 also formed in the supporting structure,-or closure, and extending about the opening I in the structure. The supporting structure is also provided with an annular flange I9 extending downwardly therefrom about the hub l5 of the disk and spaced from that hub to form a passageway through which the fluids may be delivered to the recess M, and the lower edge of the flange l9 preferably extending into the recess. The annular conduit is is connected with the passageway formed within the flange l9 by a series of openings 20 spaced about the inner wall of the conduit so that the mingled fluids will be delivered in substantially equal quantities to the passageway on all sides of the shaft 8. For the purpose of retarding the flow of the fluids from the annular conduit ill to the passageway and thereby securing a very uniform distribution of the same I have mounted within I the opening 1 and about the bearing l I a sleeve 2! which projects across the openings 20 and has its lower edge adjacent to and spaced a short distance from the inner surface of the flange I19.

It may sometimes be desirable to arrange above the inner portion of the disk a guard or deflector plate which will prevent the fluid from rising above the surface of the disk and moving outwardly without contacting with the inclined outer surface thereof which, of course, would prevent the fluid from being spread into film form and projected from the disk in the desired manner. For this purpose I have mounted above the .inner portion of the disk a guard comprising a deflector plate 22 and a hub 23 which, in the present instance, is mounted upon the annular flange I9 for both rotatory movement and vertical movement with relation thereto. The guard thus surrounds the inlet passageway formed within the flange l9 and the outer edge of the annual deflector plate is supported adjacent to the inclined surface of the disk. The downward movement of the guard is limited by a suitable retaine ing device, such as a stop ring 24, which is so arranged as to permit the outer edge of the deflector plate to contact with the surface of the disk when the apparatus'is idle or when no fluid is being delivered to the disk. When rotation is imparted to the disk the contact of the latter with the deflector plate will cause the guard to rotate with the disk and when fluid is delivered to the disk and accumulates beneath the deflector plate it will raise the latter out of contact with the disk to permit the fluid to pass to the outer portion of the inclined surface of the plate but i will deflect the fluid into direct contact with the surface of the disk. The deflector plate rests upon the body of fluid on the inner portion of the disk and willvbe caused to rotate about the flange l9 but at a speed somewhat less than the speed of rotation of the disk, the speed of rotation of the deflector plate depending in part at least upon the viscosity of the fluid and the quantity passing between the deflector and the disk. The mass of fluid beneath the deflector plate is thus confined between two surfaces rotating at different speeds which act thereon somewhat in the manner of a colloidal mill and causes a mingling of the different fluids. While this guard is shown .as applied to the particular disk here illustrated it will be obvious that it will operate inthe same manner with a disk having its upper inclined surface extending in a straight line to the hub thereof.

Mounted about the centrifugal disk 9 is a deflector ring 25 having a lower contact surface 26 arranged in the path of the film discharged from the disk and spaced such a distance from the disk that the film will impinge against the contact surface before it has had an opportunity to disintegrate or break up into drops or spray. This contact surface is arranged at an acute angle to the path of the film as it is discharged from the disk and also at an acute angle to the Wall of the receptacle 5. In the arrangement shown the contact surface has its outer portion curved downwardly, as shown at 21, so that the fluid which is deflected thereby will impinge against the inner surface of the receptacle Wall at a sharp angle. The contact of the film with the deflector will retard the movement of the film and slightly thicken the same so as to increase the body of the film sufliciently to maintain the continuity thereof until it has impinged against the wall of the receptacle and the film will then flow down the wall of the receptacle, while in film form, into the body of fluid in the lower portion of the receptacle. In this manner the several fluids are not only very intimately mixed one with the other but by maintaining the fluids in the form of a continuous film throughout their travel from the disk to the receptacle the tendency of the fluids to oxidize is very much less than would be the case if the fluids were broken up and discharged in the formof drops or a spray.

The distance which the contact surface of the deflector is spaced from the edge of the disk and its angle with relation thereto depends in 75 treatment, as some fluids may be maintained in film form for a much greater distance than others. fluids of various kinds the deflector ring is made adjustable so as to vary both the distance between the contact surface thereof and the edge of the disk and the angle of incidence of the film with relation to the contact surface.

This adjustment may be secured in any suitable manner but, as here shown, the ring is supported from the structure or closure 6 by means of screws 28 which are extended through nuts 29 mounted in the supporting structure and held against axial movement with relation thereto. By rotating these nuts the screws and the deflector ring may be caused to move vertically. In some cases it is desirable to effect the mixing or homogenizing of the fluids in a partial vacuum, as will be hereafter explained, and I have therefore provided means for 'tightly sealing the space about the. screws 28 and nuts 29. For this purpose a dome-shaped cap 30 is mounted about each nut and has in its upper end an opening 3| through which the screw 28 extends, the cap being provided with a curved seat surrounding the opening. The joint between the lower edge of the cap and the supporting structure is hermetically sealed, as by interposing a suitable sealing medium 32 between the parts. A clamping nut 33 is mounted on the upper end of the screw above the cap 30 and has its lower portion of semi-spherical shape, as shown at 33, to engage the'seat surrounding the opening 3| in the cap and to form an. air tight joint therewith. The opening through the clamping nut is closed at its upper end, as shown at 35, this upper portion .being of suflicient length to permit of the necessary movement of the nut with relation to the screw. Hence it will be apparent that when the clamping nut is tightened down against the cap 30the joints at 3| and 32 will be tightly sealed and no air can enter the receptacle about the screw. When the deflector ring is to be adjusted the clamping nut and cap are removed and a wrench applied to the outer portion of the adjusting nut 23. I

As above stated the fluids to be mixed may be supplied to the film forming device inany suitable manner but I prefer to supply the same through a single conduit or manifold such as shown at H. In the arrangement shown this manifold has connected therewith a plurality of branch pipes 36 and each of these pipes leads to a pump, one of which is shown at 31. The intake of each pump is connected by a pipe 38 v with a' source of supply for one of the fluids to be mixed. Each pump is of a variable discharge type so that the amount of fluid delivered by each pump 'may be controlled by the operator in order to secure the proper proportions of the several fluids as delivered to the homogenizer. The variable discharge may be effected in any suitable or well known manner, as by any of the well known volume controls or by varying the speed of operation. In the present instance the several pumps are driven at a constant uniform speed and to this end they have driving connection with a single shaft 39 driven by an electric motor 40. The manifold may have any suitable number of branch pipes 36 and preferably it is provided with several of these branches, say six, althoughonly three are here shown, thus enabling the apparatus to be used Therefore, to accommodate the device to with any desired number of fluids within the range of the manifold, it being understood, of

course, that any one or more of the pumps may ,be rendered inoperative when not needed. The

several fluids which are discharged by the respective pumps are mingled one with the other in the manifold I1 and flow together into the manifold I 6 of the closure. In order to secure a uniform feed of the mingled fluids to the homogenizer the manifold is provided with a feed controlling valve 4! interposed between the innermost branch pipe 36 and the conduit l6, this valve being of such a character as to maintain a constant pressure or head against which the pumps must operate and therefore causing Its use is the uniform operation of the same. particularly desirable when a partial vacuum is maintained within the receptacle 5 which, under certain circumstances might tend to reduce the pressure head and thus vary the operation of the pumps, but it also serves to maintain this constant pressure head whether the blending is effected in a vacuum or otherwise. As here shown, this valve comprises a valve disk 42 opposed to the flow of the fluid in the manifold I! and pressed against its seat by aspring 43. The outer end of this spring is engaged by a head M on a screw 55 which enables the resistance of the spring to the flow of fluid to be regulated and also enables the valve to be closed In the treatment of certain fluids, particularly oils, it is desirable to entirely prevent oxidization if possible and for this purpose the present apparatus is of such a character that the homogenization of the fluids may be effected in a partial vacuum. As has been explained the receptacle 5 in which the centrifugal disk operates is hermetically sealed. The receptacle is provided at its lower end with an outlet 46 which is connected with a conduit 41 extending into a second'receptacle or housing 48 which constitutes a vacuum chamber. The conduit 41 extends upwardly to a point near the top of the vacuum chamber and is there provided with a spreader 49, here shown as an annular flange extending from the upper edge of the conduit 41 to a point near the cylindricalwall of the receptacle 48. This annular flange slopes downwardly from the upper end of the conduit toward the wall of the receptacle so that it has substantially the form of a flat cone. An air exhaust pump 50, operated by an electric motor 5|, is connected by a pipe 52 with the interior of the housing 48 near the upper end thereof and when in operation serves to exhaust the air from the receptacle 48 and to thereby draw the fluid from the receptacle 5 through the conduit 41 and cause the same to flow from that conduit over the cone-shaped spreader 49 in the.form of a film which will drip from the edge of the spreader, while in fllm form, into the lower portion of the receptacle. By thus causing the fluids to flow in film form through the vacuum bubbles are largely eliminated and any air which may have been entrapped in the fluids is extracted therefrom and withdrawn from the receptacle. The receptacle 48 is connected at its lower end with a discharge pipe 55 which. leads to a discharge pump 54, a portion only of which is shown but which is preferably avariable volume pump similar to the pump 37. In operation the discharge pump 54 is so adjusted as to volume that it will withdraw from the receptacle 48 exactly the same amount of fluid that is delivered by the manifold I! to the receptacle 5.

It may sometimes happen that the fluids will be delivered to the receptacle 5 in improper proportions. For example, when the apparatus is first started in operation the fluids delivered to the manifold i'l may not be in proper proportion. I have therefore provided means for returning the fluid from the receptacle 58 to the receptacle 5 for further treatment. For this purpose the outlet of the discharge pump 55 is connected both with a discharge line 55, controlled by a valve 56 and with a return pipe 51 leading to the manifold I1 and controlled by a valve 58. By closing the valve 55 in the discharge line and opening the valve 58 in the return pipe the fluid which has been delivered'to the receptacle 58 may be pumped back to the receptacle 5 and again passed over the centrifugal disk 9 in correct proportion to secure a proper blending thereof, or for any other purpose which makes recirculation of the fluid desirable. When the vacuum chamber 58 is not employed and the blending of the fluids is completed within the receptacle 5 the discharge pump would, of course, take the fluid from the receptacle 5 and the blended fluid could, when desired, be returned to the receptacle 5 by the pipe5i1 When the apparatus is to be placed in opera tion the exhaust pump 50 is first started. to exhaust the air from the two receptacles, provided, of course, that the blending of the fluids is to be effected in a partial vacuum. The motor 15 is then started and when the disk 9 is revolving at high speed the motor 40 is started to place the several supply pumps in operation and the mingled fluids which are delivered to the centrifugal disk 9 will be blended as above described and delivered into the lower portion of the receptacle 5 from which they will be withdrawn through the conduit 61 to the vacuum chamber within the receptacle 68. When the blended fluid has accumulated in the vacuum chamber to the desired height, as indicated on the sight glass 59, the discharge pump 54 is started in operation and is so adjusted that it will withdraw the same amount of fluid that is delivered to the receptacle 5. In the event it is desired to recirculate the first portion of the fluid passing through the apparatus, to secure a more perfect blending thereof, the valve 56 in the discharge line 55 is closed and the valve 58 in the return line 51 opened. The discharge pump 54 is then started as soon as fluid begins to flow into the tinue to operate indefinitely so long as the fluids are supplied to the supply pipes 38.

In order that the operation of the apparatus withinthe receptacle 5 may beobserved I have aoeaeao sumcient illumination may be had to enable the mechanism and fluids to be viewed through the sight opening.

While I have described the preferred form of my method and have shown and described one 10 form of apparatus for performing the same I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the details thereof as various -modi-; flcations may occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having now fully described my invention what 15 I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l.'In a mixing apparatus, a disk mounted for rotation in a substantially horizontal plane, said disk having an outer portion of its upper sur- 20 faceinclined upwardly and outwardly with relation to the plane of rotation of said disk and having an inner portion of said upper surfa e depressed to form an annular recess and merging into said inclined surface, means for delivering 25 a fluid mass to said annular recess, means for rotating said disk at high speed to cause said mass to move from said recess over said inclined surface and to be discharged from said disk in the form-of a continuous thin film, and a struc- 30 ture surrounding said disk and arranged in the path of the fluid discharged therefrom. 2. In a mixing apparatus, a disk mounted f0 rotation in a substantially horizontal plane, said disk having an outer portion of its upper surface 35 inclined upwardly and outwardly with relation to the plane of rotation of said disk and having an inner portion of said upper surface depressed to form an annular recess and merging into said inclined surface, means for delivering a fluid mass 40 to said annular recess,. means for rotating said disk at high speed to cause said mass to move from said recess over said inclined surface and to be discharged from said disk in the form of a continuous thin film, a receptacle, and means for 45 delivering said film to saidreceptacle without interrupting the continuity thereof.

3. In a mixing apparatus, a disk mounted for rotation in a substantially horizontal plane, said disk having an outer portion of its upper surface so inclined upwardly and outwardly with relation to the plane of rotation of said disk and having an inner portion of said upper surface depressed to form an annular recess and merging into said inclined surface, means for delivering a fluid 55 mass to said annular recess, means for rotating said disk at high speed to cause said mass to move from said recess over said inclined surface and to be discharged from said disk in the form of a continuous thin film, a receptacle having a 60 wall surrounding said disk, and a deflector mounted between said disk and said wall and having a surface arranged in the path of said film at an acute angle thereto to deflect said continuous fllm downwardly against said wall. 65

4. In a mixing apparatus, a receptacle, a supporting structure arranged near the upper end of said receptacle, a shaft journaled in said structure, a disk having a hub rigidly secured to the lower end of said shaft, said disk having an 70 outer portion of its upper surface inclined upwardly andoutwardly with relation to the plane of rotation of said disk and having an inner portion of said upper surface depressed to form an annular recess about said hub and merging 7 gradually into said inclined surface, said supporting structure having an annular conduit extending about said shaft, and an annular flange ex-,

tending downwardly about said hub into said recess in said disk and spaced from said hub to form a passageway, the wall of said annular conduit having openings to connect the same with said passageway, means for supplying fluid to said conduit and said disk, means for rotating said disk to cause said fluid to move outwardly in contact with said inclined surface and to be discharged from said disk in the form of a thin film, and means to deflect said film downwardlyu and cause the same to impinge against the wall of said receptacle at an acute angle.

5. In a mixing apparatus, a receptacle, a supporting structure arranged near the upper end of said receptacle, a shaft journaled in said structure, a disk having a hub rigidly secured to the lower end of said shaft, said disk having an outer portion of its upper surface inclined upwardly and outwardly with relation to the plane of rotation of said disk and having an inner portion of said upper'surface depressed to form an annular recess about said hub and merging gradually into said inclined surface, said supporting structure having an annular conduit extending about said shaft, an annular flange extending downwardly about isaid hub into said recess in said disk and spaced from said hub to form a passageway, the wall of said annularconduit having openings to connect the same with said passageway, an annular member extending across the openings in the wall of said annular conduit in spaced relation thereto and having its lower edge within and spaced from said annular flange to restrict and equalize the flow of fluid through said passageway, an annular guard slidably mounted on said flange with end of said receptacle, a shaft journaled in said structure, a disk having a hub rigidly secured to the lower end of said shaft, said disk having an outer portion of its upper surface inclined upwardly and outwardly with relation to the plane of rotation of said disk and having an inner portion of said upper surface depressed to form an annular recess about said hub and merging gradually into said inclined surface, said supporting structure having an annular conduit extending about said shaft, an annular flange extending downwardly about said hub into said recess in said disk and spaced from said hub to form a passageway, the wall of said annular conduit having openings to connect the same with said passageway, means for supplying fluid to said conduit and said disk, means for rotating said disk to cause said film to move outwardly in contact with said inclined surface and to be discharged from said disk in the form of a thin fllm, a deflector ring mounted about and spaced from said disk and having an inclined lower surface in the path of the fllm discharged from said disk to deflect said film downwardly against the wall of said receptacle at an acute angle.

"I. In a mixing apparatus, a sealed receptacle, a disk mounted in said receptacle for-rotation in a substantially horizontal plane, means for 5 delivering a plurality of fluids simultaneously to the upper surface of said disknear the axis thereof, means for rotating said disk to cause said fluids to move outwardly in contact with the upper surface thereof-and to be discharged in therefrom in the form of a continuous film, a deflector mounted about and spaced from said disk and having an inclined lower surface in the path of said film to deflect said film downwardly against the wall of said receptacle at an acute l5 angle, a second sealed receptacle, a conduit leading from the lower portion of the first mentioned receptacle to the upper portion of said second receptacle, means for exhausting air from said second receptacle, and causing the fluid to flow 20 from the first mentioned receptacle to said second receptacle, and a spreader in the upper portion of said second receptacle to receive the fluid from said conduit and spread the same into a thin film. 25 8. In a mixing apparatus, a sealed receptacle, a disk mounted in said receptacle for rotation in a substantially horizontal plane,. means for delivering a plurality of fluids simultaneously to the upper surface of said disk near the axis thereof, means for rotating said disk to cause said fluids to move outwardly in contact with they upper surface thereof and to be discharged therefrom in the form of a continuous film, a deflector mounted about and spaced from said disk and having an inclined lower surface in the path of said fllm to deflect said film downwardly against the wall of said receptacle at an acute angle, a second sealed receptacle, a conduit leading from'the lower portion of the first men- 40 tioned receptacle to the upper portion of said second receptacle, means for exhausting air from said second receptacle, and causing the fluid to flow from the first mentioned receptacle to said second receptacle, a spreader in the upper portion of said second receptacle to receive the fluid from said conduit and spread the same into a thin film, and means for returning the fluid from said second receptacle to the disk in said first mentioned receptacle. 9. In a device for mixing a fluid mass, the combination of a rotatable member provided with an annular, material-supporting and conveying surface, a generating element of which has an appreciable axial component considerably smaller than its radial component, means for feeding the material to be mixed to the inner periphery of said annular surface in the form of a continuous film, and means adjacent the outer periphery of said annular surface for collecting the attenuated continuous fllm discharged therefrom, 'all of said means so arranged that said film is mechanically supported on one side only and that the continuity of said film is maintained. 10. In a device for mixing a fluid mass, the combination of a rotatable member provided with an annular, material-supporting and conveying surface, a generating element of which has an appreciable axial component considerably smaller than its radial component, means a for feeding the material to be mixed to the inner periphery of said annular surface in the form of a continuous film, and means adjacent the outer periphery of said annular surface for collecting the attenuated continuous film disably smaller than its radial component, means for feeding the material to be mixed to the inner periphery of said annular surface in the form of a continuous film, and means adjacent the outer periphery of said annular surface for collecting the attenuated continuous film discharged therefrom, said means comprising an annular deflector adapted to deflect said attenuated continuous film at an acute angle against a stationary wall, all of said means so arranged that saidfilm is mechanically supported on one side only and that the continuity of said film is maintained.

12. In a device for mixing a fluid mass, the combination of a rotatable member provided with an annular, material-supporting and conveying surface, a generating element of which has an appreciable axial component considerably smaller than its radial component, means for feeding the material to be mixed to the inner periphery of said annular surface in the form of a continuous film, and means adjacent the outer periphery of said annular surface for collectingthe attenuated continuous film discharged therefrom, said means comprising an annular deflector adjustably supported with respect to the discharge periphery of said annular surface and adapted to deflect said film at an acute angle against a stationary wall, all of said means so arranged that said'fllm is mechanically supported on one side only and that the continuity of said film is maintained.

' 13. In a device of the character described, the

combination of a rotatable member provided with an annular material-supporting and. conveying surface, means for impounding amusintity of the material to be treated centrally of said member and adapted to feed such material in the'form of a continuous film onto the inner periphery of said surface, and means adjacent the outer periphery of said surface for collecting the attenuated continuous film all of said means so arranged that said film is mechanically supported on one side only and that the continuity of said film is maintained.

14. In a device of the character described, th combination of a rotatable member provided with an annular material supporting and conveying surface, means'for impounding a quantity of the material to be treated centrally of said member and adapted to feed such material in the form of a continuous film onto the inner periphery of said surface, said means comprising a baflie arranged centrally over said rotatable member with its outer periphery adjacent the inner periphery of said annular area, and means adjacent the outer periphery of said surface for collecting the attenuated continuous film, all of said means so arranged that said film is mechanically supported on one side only and that the continuity of said film is maintained.

15. In a device of the character described, the combination of a rotatable member provided with ically supported on one side only and that the continuity of said film is maintained.

16. In a device of the character described, the combination of a rotatable member provided with an annular material-supporting and conveying surface, means for impounding a quantity of the material to be treated centrally of said member and adapted to feed such material in the form of a continuous film onto the inner periphery of said surface, and means adjacent the outer periphery of said surface for collecting the attenuated continuous film, said means including a stationary wall against which said continuous film is projected at an acute angle, all of said means so arranged that said film is mechanically supported on one side only and that the continuity of said film is maintained.

17. In a device of the character described, the combination of a rotatable member provided with an annular I material-supporting and conveying surface, means for impounding a quantity of the material to be treated centrally of said member, said means comprising a bailie member movably supported over the central portion of said member and adapted to float on the material being treated, the outer periphery of said baflle lying between the inner and outer peripheries of said annular surface, and means for driving said rotatable member.

18. The method of mixing a plurality of components at least one of which is a liquid which comprises the steps of maintaining an impounded quantity of such commingled materials centrally of a rotating member, radially displacing said impounded mass into a continuous film, centrifugally attenuating said continuous film, while mechanically supported on one side only, by means of said rotating member moving said film radially outwardly, and then collecting said film.

19. The method of mixing a plurality of components at least one of which is a liquid which comprises the steps of maintaining an impounded quantity of such commingled materials centrally of a rotating member, radially displacing said impounded mass into a continuous film, centrifugally attenuating said continuous film, while mechanically supported on one side=only, by means of said rotating member moving said film radially outwardly, and then collecting said film. by de- 60' flecting the same at an acute angle against a stationary wall.

20. The method of mixing a plurality of components at least one of which is a liquid which comprises the steps of maintaining an impounded quantity of such commingled materials centrally of a rotating member, radially displacing said impounded mass into a continuous film, centrifugally attenuating said continuous film by means of said rotating member moving said film radially and axially while mechanically supported on one .e side only, such axial displacement being relatively small with respect to such radial displacement, and then collecting said continuous film.

21. The method of mixing aplurality of components at least one of which is a liquid which comprises the steps of maintaining an impounded quantity of such commingled materials centrally of a rotating member, radially displacing said impounded mass into a continuous film, centrifugally attenuating said continuous film by means of said rotating member moving said film radially and axially while mechanically supported on one side only, such axiab displacement being relatively small with respect to such radial displacement, and then collecting said continuous film by deflecting the same at an acute angle against a stationary wall.

22. The method of mixing a plurality of components at least one of which is a liquid which comprises the steps of maintaining an impounded quantity of such commingled materials centrally of a rotating member, radially displacing said impounded mass into a continuous film, centrifugally attenuating said continuous film, while mechanically supported on one side only, by means of said rotating member moving said film radially outwardly, and then collecting said film, the generation and collection of said film being accomplished in at least a partial vacuum.

MEAD CORNELL. 

